County: Dublin Site name: Scholarstown Road, Knocklyon, Dublin 16
Sites and Monuments Record No.: - Licence number: 18E0458
Author: Aidan O'Connell
Site type: Settlement/cemetery
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 712452m, N 726879m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.280293, -6.313731
Test excavations were undertaken on the site of a proposed residential development following the completion of a geophysical survey (18R0112; J Nichols). A total of 411 linear meters of test trenching and an additional 120 sq m of trenches were excavated at 19 locations across the site. Test trenching confirmed the presence of a large earth-cut enclosure initially detected in the geophysical survey. The enclosure ditch was 3.42m wide x 1.61m deep and enclosed an area of c. 59m east-west x c. 55m. A fragment of a corroded iron knife was retrieved from the upper levels of the ditch.
Numerous internal features were recorded. These were 34 potential grave cuts, 15 of which had visible skeletal remains. Two additional burials were identified to the east of the main burial concentration without an apparent grave cut. A further 3 individuals were identified in the assemblage of disarticulated human remains collected during the test excavations. All burials were located in the south/central area of the enclosure interior. A small number of post-holes, pits and bowl furnaces were also found in the enclosure interior and are indicative of settlement activity. The site was interpreted as a settlement/cemetery. A sample of disarticulated human bone was dated to AD 617-688 (95% probability; D-AMS 030531; 1365±27 BP).The site was subsequently excavated under licence 18E0458 ext.
Archer Heritage Planning, 8 Beat Centre, Stephenstown, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
